Trevor ‘Chubb’ Bailey was “knocking on deaths door” and the Men of League foundation were the first to come to his aid.
It’s the gesture that counts, and in this case, it was the small gesture of a visit to a hospital room in 2012 after former St George Dragon Trevor Bailey had a heart attack, which prompted his desire to give back to the Men of League himself.
“In 2012 I fell over with a heart attack and my first visitors were the guys of Men of League” Bailey told Brydens Lawyers NSW coach Brad Fittler.
“I was on deaths door at the time and I said to them, ‘whenever the time arises, I would like to put a bit back in.’”
Bailey was always a member of the association back when Ron Coote, Jim Hall and Max Brown started the organisation in 2002 in aim to provide practical assistance and social support to all past and present members of the Rugby League community.
Bailey stands as the current President of the Men of League Northern Sydney and often finds himself tucked away in a Warriewood rooftop, what he describes as the ‘work get-out room’ where past players and friends will often come together after work to relax and spend time together.
Decked out with a darts board, pool table, football memorabilia and the all-important beer fridge, this little room is the hub of the Northern Beaches Men of League members and a nest for incredible Rugby League stories, banter and laughs.
Like Bailey, the Men of League have also helped Manly Legends Max Krilich and Terry Randall when they have caught themselves in health scares. Krilich had trouble accepting their generosity when founder Ron Coote assured him of their mission.
“The biggest box of fruit turned up, magnificent it was, and I rang him up and said ‘mate I don’t need this!’” Krilich told Tim Gilbert.
“And he said ‘no you’re like everybody else, we’re going to look after you and that’s what we do.’
“It’s just a fabulous organisation what they have done.”
The Northern Sydney Committee will host a golf day on Friday 17 May to raise funds for the Men of League foundation at Mona Vale Golf Club.
